Milking machine teat cup



Nov. 24, 1964 P. R. GEORGE MILKING MACHINE TEAT CUP 2 Sheets-Sheet ll Filed May l, 1963 2J 2 2 2 ro 7.

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Nov. 24, 1964 P. R. GEORGE 3,158,136

MLKING MACHINE TEAT CUP Filed May l, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11M/ENTER F'ALI L RBERT EEQRBE ATTDRNEY United States Patent Ofice 3,158,136 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 3,158,136 MILKING MACHINE TEAT CUP Paul R. George, Cambridge City, Ind., assigner to Golay & Co., Inc., Cambridge City, Ind. Filed May '1, 1963, Ser. No. 277,363 6 Claims. (Cl. 119-14.52)

This invention relates to that part of a cow milking machine which is termed the teat cup. The teat cup normally and in modern practice consists of two parts, namely a substantially rigid shell and an internal exible, elastic inllation. The wall of the shell is generally externally cylindrical throughout its length having a full diameter inletopening which receives a collar of the ination to retain the inflation centrally within the shell and to limit the passage of the inliation longitudinally through the shell. Heretofore the shell has also been of a constant diameter internally. A tubular end of the ination passes through the outlet end of the shell in an air sealing manner and extends from the shell a suliicient distance to interconnect with a claw or a milk pail. The inflation customarily employed varies in diameter from a large diameter at the collar end to a slightly smaller diameter at the end to which the discharge tube is connected. The discharge tube and the body of the inflation are integrally formed. The discharge tube is normally more resistant to bending and collapse than is the main body of the inilation within the shell.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a shell which will receive the more or less standard ination as generally described above with a minimum air space between the shell and the ination so that less air volume is required to be handled by the vacuum pump normally employed in the milking operation with a consequent permissible reduction in size of the pump and in power input required by the pump.

A further important object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with an ination having the uniform thickness of wall, both smooth inside and outside throughout its length to its tube end in the absence of having to have any special corrugations or creases in the wall of the ination. f

Still further, by use of the present invention herein described, the wall of the inflation may be very flexible and elastic to have what may be termed a soft action.

Before describing the invention in detail, it is desirable that the actual milking operation be understood when a teat cup carrying the inflation is used in conjunction with a milking machine. Thisrmilking operation will be described following the description of the several views in the drawing, in which A FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a teat cup to which is applied an inflation;

FIG. 2 is a View in top or inlet end of the teat cup assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view in lower or discharge end of the assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal central section on the line 4.4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section on the line S-v-S in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in transverse section on the line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view in transverse section on the line 7--7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view diagrammatically shown in central vertical section through a teat cup with a cows teat received within the inflation; and

FIG. 9 is a semidiagrammatic sectional view with atmospheric pressure applied within the shell.

In the machine milking of a cow, the usual ination 10 is inserted within the shell 11 to extend axially therethrough from the end 12 to have a tube 13 leading through the end 14 of the shell. It is by means of this tube 13 that the interior of the inflation 10 is partially evacuated. There is a nipple 15 opening into the interior of the shell 11, and by means of a pulsator (not shown) well known to those versed in the art, the interior of the shell 11 is intermittently evacuated and atmospheric air is admitted under normal atmospheric pressure.

The ination 10 is entered over the cows teat 16. The tube 13 is interconnected with a vacuum line wherein the degree of vacuum is constantly maintained. In one particular milking system, a ten inch (mercury column) vacuum is maintained. By means of this vacuum, milk is induced to flow into the inllation from the cows teat 16 and out through the tube 13. This tube carrying vacuum cannot be applied to the cows teat constantly without damage to the cows teat or udder or a reduction in the supply of milk. This vacuum is appliedfor sixty percent of the time milking cycle for which the pulsator is designed and set in one form. During this sixty percent of the time cycle, the space between the inflation inside of the shell 11 is also partially evacuated, but at a slightly higher vacuum than is within the tube 13 and inside of the inflation 10. This prevents the inllation from collapsing below the lower end of the cows teat 16. Then for the forty percent period of the milking cycle, the pulsator will cut oft -the vacuum liow and permit introduction of atmospheric air through the nipple 15 while the vacuum in the tube 13 in the lower end of the inflation 10 remains at its constant value. Incidentally, the vacuum applied between the outside of the inilation and the inside of the lshell is approximately one inch higher than that within the inflation.

When the air at atmospheric pressure Yis admitted to the inside of the shell 11 around the lower end of the inflation 10, the inliation promptly collapses to electively close the lower end of the inflation between the cows teat and the tube 13 so that application of vacuum from the tube 13 is greatly reduced. Then continued action of the pulsator Ycuts ott the inlet of air and applies a vacuum to the inside of theshell 11 thereby, with the cooperation of the vacuum in the tube 13 causing the elastic iniiation 10 to expand rapidly to its normal position as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 showing the position or condition of the ination when air pressure is applied to the outside of the ination within the shell 11. Thus through the intermittent action as just set out, all occasioned by the pulsator, milk is induced to ow vfrom the cows teatv16. Y

The inliation is sufficiently thin walled and soft and elastic to permit the closure thereof at the zone indicated bythe numeral 17, FIG. 9, without applying any material external pressure to the cows teat confined within the upper portion of the inflation.' It is to be noted that at no time does the differential in pressure between the outside and the inside ofthe ination during the milking operation exceed four to live inches. This introduction of atmospheric pressure likewise causes no particular change in the pressure on the cows teat.

Now with that operation in mind, the present invention is described.

The shell generally designated by the numeral 20 is herein indicated as being made out of a suitable rigid plastic such as bya molding process. Due to the internal shaping of the shell, it is much easier to mold the form desired out of plastic than it is to form it out of metal. Metal of course may be used, although it is believed it would be more expensive to do so than to employ the plastic.

.is taken.

the zone 32 to thelower end 36 of the shell.

3 face ofthe shell. The end 22 of the shell 20 has a full circular opening and is preferably provided with an annular rib 23 therearound. The lower end of the shell 20 has an opening 24 centrally Itherethrough to receive the 'tube 250i the intlation 26. The upper end of the inilation'carries ahead 27 which has an outer and down- -t'urned flange 2S elastically `stretching over the rib 23 and extending down a short distance Yalong the outer surface of the shell 29.A There is an opening 29 through the head 27, this opening being through a rather thin section 30 extending laterally around the opening 29 and across the teat receiving end of the inflation 26. The ination 26 extends from the head 27 in a normally circular ltubular manner, the internal diameter of which reduces Vslightly 'from Vthe head 27 to a lower zone 31 fromV which the "cated is more rigid although bendable, and leads to a connection (not shown) with the claw or pail unit receiving the milk, and to which uni-t there are normally attached four of the teat cup assemblies.

The inside of the shell 20 starts tapering inwardly from the full diameter end 22 from Opposite sides to -set up an elliptical contour of gradually iiattening opposing sides down to a zone 32 at which the section 7-7 The progression of this narrowing Aelliptical shaping is indicated throughout the sections 5, 6, and 7. It is to Vbe noted that the side walls 33 and 34 of the Aelliptical shape have junction one with the other not i across this junction as best indicated in FIG. 7. While the vwalls 33 and 34 are approaching one another in this .change in contour from the circular end 23 to the zone 32, it is to -be `noted that they ends 35 remain at a constant .distance of spacing one from the other from the end 2310 the zone 32.y In fact, these walls 33 and 34 by the time they. reach the zone 32 are substantially, in the major lengths thereof, parallel one with the other, andv this parallel relation continues downwardly from Likewise .the straight line relationship of the ends 35 continues Vto that end 36.. Y

In this peculiar shaping of 'the inside of the shell 20, and in the maintaining of the cylindrical outer surface of the shell, there is a thickening of the Wall from -top to the zone V32. From the zone 32 to the Vlower end 36,

vthis, thickness remains constant. That is .the thickness Vas indicated in FIG. 7 is that thickness between the zone 32 and the shell end 36.

The `thickened porti-ons ,37.and 37a of the shell 20 Vare provided with vertically extending slots, one in veach instance,l indicated by fthe numerals 38 and 38a. These slots openithrough the walls 33 and 3d, but arev closed at their opposite ends. These slots 38 and 38a extend from the bottom 36 of the shell 20 upwardly to approximately the top, full circular end `22. The slots are diametrically opposed to be in the thickest portions of the wall parts 37 and 37a.- v

A nipple 39 is attached Vto the lower end of the shell 20 externally thereof, and has a passageway 40 leading therethrough to open into one of the slots, herein shown as the slot 38a. Y

`lll/hen lthe inflation 26 -is positioned within Ythe shell .20 as indicated in FIG. 4, Ythe lower end 31 of the inflation is well down within the constant width of the lips below 4 of the intlation thereabove which comes into contact with the inside wall of the shell '20 whereby the inllation itself begins to assume a shape slightly elliptical such as at the elevation on which the section 6 6 is taken, and this elliptical shape then begins to llatten out as indicated in FIG. 7 to remain somewhat constant downwardly through the remainder of the shell between the zone 32 and the bottom yof the inflation at the zone 31 from which the tube 2S leads. The tube 25 being less flexible than is the inflation proper, will not assume the elliptical shape, but will preserve itscylindrical shape since that is 'the shape of the margin'of the opening 24 through .the

shell.

It is to be noted, that beginning at the elevation whereV -in FIG. 5. Y

Now in operation, the cows teats will reach down within the inflation 26 to a little above the level on which the section 6--6 is taken so that the teat is generally entirely within the circular par-t of the inliation, this circular portion not having been changed until the inflation passes down through the shell and through the zone at the section 6 6 line and therebelow. With the tube 25 connected to the milk receiving means and `consequently the vacuum inducing line, 'when'the vacuum is thus formed within the lower part of the Vinilation 26, milk will be induced to ilow from the cows teat down through the lower portion of the inflation and out through the tube 2S, these parts having large passageways to accommodate the llow of milk .without restriction. When the milk llow has continued as has been predetermined by the length or duration of the milking cycle, the vacuum induced through the nipple 39 outside Vof the inflation 26, the

application 'of the vacuum being enhanced by the reason Aof the presence of the slots 38 and 38a to substantially the yentire length of the inflation and around the outside of the cows teat, this vacuumv condition is destroyed in the pulsating action by the nipple 39 being opened up to entrance of air from the atmosphere so that the pressure is quickly increased within the shell 20 around the inflation, and this means that the inflation, being quite ilexible will quickly increase the major longitudinal axis of its elliptical shape predetermined by the side walls 33 and 34, FIG. 7, to cause the ination to ilatten along that axis to the condition shown by the dash lines in FIG. 7, whereby Vthe inilation then'serves along this line as a shut off valve restricting any further application of vacuum from the tube 25 to the cows teat.l This ilattening action Y tinued, with the application of vthe vacuuml a slightly major part ofthe period of the cycle and non-application during the `lesser period as applied to the teatof the cow itself.

. The shapeof the lower end of the inflation is quickly changed. as `has been indicated, and this is accelerated by the presence of the vertical grooves 38 and 38a, and also `further by the reason of circumferential ribsk 41 around the tube 25 between the end 3 6 of the shell and the zone 31 at the interconnection with the inilation. This4 means that there is air passage circumferentially around the tube between the two vertical slots 3g and 38a. The external diameter of the tube 2S is such that it does not ll up the minor elliptical axis of the elliptical shape which would be the axis centrally of the two vertical slots 33 and 33:1. Also it is to be noted that the upper end of the constant shaped elliptical form from the zone 32 downwardly there is a curve 42 on the one side and 43 on the other side outwardly therefrom and into the straight inclined lines i4 and 45 along the edges of the slots 3S and 38a. This peculiar formation gives a quickened gripping of the iniiation at the zone 32 when it leaves the gradually sloping sides 33 and 34 and enters the constantly spaced apart sides traversing the shell 2@ from that zone 32, to the end 36. It is at these curving portions d2 and 43 that the flattening of the ination begins when the atmospheric air is applied externally thereof.

While I have herein shown and described my inveni tion in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed in both the shell and the inflation without departing from the spirit of the invention, thus do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim: l. A milking machine teat cup comprising a rigid shell having an upper end opening substantially circular in contour, and an opposite lower end circular opening of lesser diameter than that of the upper end; an internal passageway having a wall merging from said circular opening into an elliptical contour decreasing by transverse, minor axis lengths to fa shell zone spaced from said upper end, the ellipitical wall contour continuing with a txed minor axis length from said zone to said opposite end; slot laterally extending from said passageway wall centered approximately on said minor axis and extending approximately throughout the length of said passageway; and an air conducting member carried by the shell adjacent said opposite end and having a passageway therethrough opening into said slot; and an inflation having one end portion litting snugly over said shell upper end; a major, circular tubular body length fixed to said portion and extending through said shell passageway to Aand through said passage zone for a distance within said iixed minor axis length; and n v a circular tube of diameter less than that of said body extending from the body and through said shell opposite end opening;

said iniiation body length being flexible and elastic and normally approximately cylindrical and being distorted from its cylindrical shape adjacent said shell upper end into elliptical shape of decreasing minor axis by contact Awith said passageway wall through said zone; and

said tube having a wall less exible than the wall of said body and remaining approximately of constant diameter.

2. The structure of claim l, in which said elliptical passageway has a major axis of approximately constant length throughout the shell. v

3. The structure of claim 2, in which 4said inflation elliptical shape predetermines an approach to a lower body portion flattened state to have opposite body sides below a cows teat within the iniiation come into milk dow shutoff Contact on or immediately below the cows teat along the major axis of the passageway contour under minus atmospheric pressure within said tube and atmospheric pressure in saidslot; the said merging of the passageway wall reducing the air space within the shell externally of the inilation; and the length of said major axis being sucient to receive fully and freely opposite folds of the flattened iniiation portion.

4. The structure of claim 2, in which said major axis has a length approximately equal to the diameter of said upper end circular opening.

5,. The structure of claim l, in which there is a sec'- ond slot diametrically opposite the rst slot and extending throughout the length of said passageway.

6. The structure of claim 5, in which said inflation tube is of less diameter than the length of said passageway minor axis.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,945,386 stampen Jan. 30, 1934 2,687,112 Shurts Aug. 24, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 676,157 Great Britain luly 23, 1952 

1. A MILKING MACHINE TEAT CUP COMPRISING A RIGID SHELL HAVING AN UPPER END OPENING SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR IN CONTOUR, AND AN OPPOSITE LOWER END CIRCULAR OPENING OF LESSER DIAMETER THAN THAT OF THE UPPER END; AN INTERNAL PASSAGEWAY HAVING A WALL MERGING FROM SAID CIRCULAR OPENING INTO AN ELLIPTICAL CONTOUR DECREASING BY TRANSVERSE, MINOR AXIS LENGTHS TO A SHELL ZONE SPACED FROM SAID UPPER END, THE ELLIPTICAL WALL CONTOUR CONTINUING WITH A FIXED MINOR AXIS LENGTH FROM SAID ZONE TO SAID OPPOSITE END; A SLOT LATERALLY EXTENDING FROM SAID PASSAGEWAY WALL CENTERED APPROXIMATELY ON SAID MINOR AXIS AND EXTENDING APPROXIMATELY THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID PASSAGEWAY; AND AN AIR CONDUCTING MEMBER CARRIED BY THE SHELL ADJACENT SAID OPPOSITE END AND HAVING A PASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH OPENING INTO SAID SLOT; AND AN INFLATION HAVING ONE END PORTION FITTING SNUGLY OVER SAID SHELL UPPER END; 